Painting Wachapreague

We all had a blast painting-This is mine from today.. The Eastern Shore Art League spent the day there and painted and we had a terrific lunch.. Mine was fried oyster poorboy sandwich with sweet potato fries.

We were at Island House in Wachapreague,Va.

Here are some of the ESAL painting! A relaxing day of enjoying the sun and water,so gorgeous there.

love,Diana

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What A Place!

HI, I just came home from the Eastern Shore Art League Paint Out. It was at Carolyn's home near Parksley,Va. This was the home of Bobby Swain, the carver and his wife Terry,the painter. The little house on the dock was his studio. I could live there.. it's adorable,large windows, right on the water, loblolly pines. Here are a few of the ladies, from left to right, standing Susan,Barbara,Carol, Gayle,Monelle, and Purobe..We ate a lovely lunch of salads(everyone had made salads),painted on the deck,and just absorbed the peacefulness. Carolyn shared some begonias with us, I truly didn't want to leave.. I'm going to paint his studio.. I was so busy enjoying the beauty, I didn't paint much! :) ha ha.. and of course I got lost coming home.. ended up 2 towns north of Parksley before I found my path back.. oh brother.. ha ha. talk to you soon,Diana

Maplewood Gardens Paint Out and Class...and

HI! Yesterday I went with Monelle to the Maplewood Garden Eastern Shore Art League Paint Out. It was a lovely time. Phil invited us this year. His wife Barbara used to have us there,she passed away with cancer a few years ago and was very much missed. We all brought a food dish to serve--me--noodle salad.. and we painted around the pool and garden. I did the little pool house..it was fun just dabbling in watercolor and talking. We swam in the cool pool. (The water was cool..) Brenda declared she was a 3 noodle kind of girl as  we all took a brightly colored styrofoam noodle to float with. It was fun being with Grace,Monelle,Barbara S.,Gayle,Brenda,Dottie,Donna,Carol, Willie,Purube,and Sharon,and Phil came out to say hello. 

Today I'm getting my things organized for class tomorrow. I'm teaching Painting Sunflowers in Watercolor at Norfolk Botanical Gardens in Norfolk. I had to run down to the Smiling Dolphin in Nassawadox Va. to pick up some more yellow paint.. Jenny Floyd owns and runs this art and framing shop.

The first photo is of a painting I sketched at the beach of the star fish shells. I poured after the sketch and am now defining the shells.. better get the paper and things together before painting.

Talk to you soon. Enjoy your weekend, let me know what you are working on! Diana

Eastern Shore Art League Paint Out

hi, We had a paint out..at Harborton,Va.A paint out with the Eastern Shore Art League is a day of painting together.We take dishes to share and eat lunch and today we were at Jennie's home in Harborton,a small fishing village on the shore. Her flowers were in bloom, her chickens and coop provided inspiration and her dear dog Emma( a yellow lab-like my Daisy) was there to welcome us. Her studio and home reflected the warmth of her character.I painted a little and enjoyed visiting with friends who kindly remembered my Daisy,so some tears were shared..It was a loving day. take care, Diana

ESAL Spring Show Hanging

HI, I went up to Onancock today and picked up Monelle,my dear,dear friend and we delivered our paintings to the Eastern Shore Art League Spring Show held this year at the Red Queen. Here's some photos of Jane,Susan,and Lois,-all artists and friends..and then individuals of Monelle and I.(Her new Rooster watercolor is behind her.) There will be 100 new originals at the opening and show. Monelle said,"let's do lunch," so we did at Janet's in Onancock. Delightful morning! talk to you soon.Diana

Come to the opening if you are near!! Friday night 5-8.. show continues to hang until April 7

Silly Titles

Today,I framed the Chickadee with the Star Magnolias. Thank goodness I've got both paintings ready for the opening on Friday. It's the Eastern Shore Art League Spring Art Show at the Red Queen Gallery in Onancock.The Opening is March 16 from 5pm-8pm.

About a month ago we were asked for the titles of our paintings. Naturally, I didn't have a clue, because I hadn't painted them yet! I came up with some names but truly wanted to name them Spring Masterpiece#1 and Spring Masterpiece #2.. but I was good and didn't do it. They are "In the Spring" and "Springtime Blessings".. well I didn't know what I was going to paint either! ha ha..

Tell me about what you are painting now!! talk to you soon. Diana--The other painting for the show is the daffodil watercolor pictured..

Sketching Vinca

Yesterday I went up to Parksley,Va. to Annie's Restaurant, I had to pick up my paintings because Matt is having the restaurant painted inside. On the way home, I stopped by Hortico Garden Center.. oh no.. and everything was on sale..

I bought some pale pink Bee Balm, and two other tall perennials the garden expert told me were very invasive. I said, "No problem I like invasive.. one is pale blue, the other bright red. I know the hummers will love them. Also I bought this gorgeous hanging basket I couldn't resist.. it was on sale for $10 and it's magnificent. Of course after I brought it home it drooped terribly and I thought I had killed it already.. but no I watered it and it looked so much better.

I started to draw it today and asked my dear husband to photograph me with the plant while I was drawing. (That is the photo of my feet- He took.)I didn't include the one of just my body, no head and no flowers.. ha ha. oh he tried. So I will be painting this vinca basket... Hope the painting does justice to the amazing beauty of the flower! talk to you soon, Diana--

Look at the Eastern Shore Art League T shirt I have on! It's an antique,on the back it has work by Doris Hoffmaster, Jane Hinds, Mary Ann Clarke,Joan Trapp,Me and more!

Oranges on Blue Plate

hi! Here is my orange painting, I added some more blue to the "plate". It's looser than I usually do but I like it and it was fun. This was the painting I started at the ESAL(Eastern Shore Art League) Paint Out.

Now, I've got in mind to do a heron's head and this is the pour I will use. I'll start my sketch later today.I love the splash to the right and I need some smaller paintings for my next show, Eastern Shore Heritage Festival. The information is to the top right of the blog!

I also wanted to share with you a photo I took the other night of a little screech owl in my backyard. This one was dark greys and white, I know I'm going to have to do an owl soon. He was adorable and let me get close. Should have taken a closer photo but didn't want to flash him too much.

Take care, I've got paper work to do...,ugh. Rather paint. Talk to you soon,Diana

ESAL Paint Out

Today, I went to a paintout of the Eastern Shore Art League, here are a few of the ladies present with some of the beginnings of our paintings. Susan McGuire invited us to her lovely home to paint together and we all took a dish for lunch.We met her lab,Katie. I painted her oranges on a lovely blue platter, you can see it with Susan and her painting of flowers(first photo).No photo of me, I'm taking the pictures..haha! A warm day in a cozy home painting with friends..Talk to you soon, Diana

Barbara of Maplewood Gardens

HI, Sad news. Barbara Custis of Maplewood Gardens died Monday after a long battle with cancer. She was a friend and a kind person. She always invited the ESAL ( Eastern Shore Art League) to her lovely farm/garden to paint in July. We would bring dishes to share and enjoy her company and swim in her pool and paint her flowers and sheep. It was a lovely day. We will miss her. These are photos of her garden and my painting is of a quiet spot there. Soft music flowed into the garden. A lovely place and a lovely person. This is in memory of Barbara and for her family. Love, Diana

ESAL Member Show Opening

HI Everyone, last night was the member opening of the Eastern Shore Art League. Here are photos from the event. The show is open to the public find the times in the right hand corner of the blog... Pictured are Ivana V., artist who made 300 cookies for this. They were wonderful!(We all made goodies if we could but Ivana really did so many delicious kinds! Always good food at the ESAL along with Great ART) Fred and Susan giving out the awards, John S., Sue, Susan M. with Emma the lab, Monelle N.,Marg. and also pictured my Lady in Blue, which won 3rd place in watercolor and my Two Dear Piglets won Honorable Mention. I was pleased to receive these awards.Lovely show and a wonderful time. talk to you soon, have a great weekend, Diana